Tent Expo Schedule of Events

Tent installation will begin on Sunday, January 7. This day will likely be for tents where events are being held (i.e. registration, lunch, education, etc.). Other display tents will begin install on Monday, January 8. ATA/TRD Staff will reach out a few weeks prior with a specific date and time you can begin your tent installation.

Pick up your badge at the registration sponsor’s tent: 

Shuttle pick up will be at about Noon at The Daytona Autograph Collection Hotel, with a Shotgun start at 1pm.

Since 1997, LPGA International’s Arthur Hills Course has been a favorite among locals and vistors alike. It features natural wetlands, narrow pine corridors, small greens and strategically placed water hazards. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned, the Hills Course is a must!

Sponsored by

RESCHEDULED for WEDNESDAY at 1:45 pm due to Weather.  All individuals operating a MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform) on your job sites or within your facility must undergo training in accordance with federal regulations. To assist you in meeting OSHA requirements and complying with the new ANSI A92 standards, ATA TRD has partnered with ARA to offer comprehensive MEWP Operator Training. This training initiative not only enhances safety but also adds value for both your employees and customers.

TRD’s MEWP training is just the beginning of a series of training opportunities tailored to the equipment commonly used in the tent industry. Our convenient hybrid course combines online and in-person components to optimize your or your employees’ time. You’ll begin with the convenience of online classroom training and testing via a web-based platform, allowing you to progress at your own pace. The online portion typically takes around 4 hours to complete and must be finished 48 hours prior to the hands-on training.

The final step in certification involves an onsite practical hands-on examination. This MEWP in-person training event is rescheduled at the ATA Tent Expo in Daytona on January 10, 2024. TRD will provide the necessary equipment for the practical hands-on test. Upon successful completion of this hands-on training segment, Certified MEWP Operators will receive an operator card certifying their status.

Following the exams, there will be an impromptu social hour for the installers to bask in their completion of the certification!

For those who missed out on this offering back in 2022, TRD and the Daytona International Speedway are giving you the opportunity to experience the Speedway like never before – tour the infield, see the historic start/finish line, get your picture taken in Victory Circle, visit the Motorsports Hall of Fame and maybe another surprise or two!

Due to weather, pick up location has been changed to The Daytona Autograph Collection Hotel.

Shuttle pick up will be at 3:30pm, with activities starting at 4pm.

Enjoy the ultimate cruise on the beautiful waters of Daytona Beach FL. Paddle Pub is a 20 passenger, pedal-powered pontoon boat for the ultimate networking party on the water. While one group of 20 is out on the water, the other will be enjoying happy hour and friendly conversation at Mama Foo Foo’s, a creative and captivating upscale dive-bar.

TRD will provide coolers with beverages, but the boat is BYOB if you have a favorite you’d like to bring along!

Updates will be provided based on weather.  If the paddle pub is canceled, another venue will be chosen.

Pick up your badge at the registration sponsor’s tent: 

Come hear what TRD has been up to this past year and what is on the horizon for the next year.

Melissa Furman, Owner/Consultant, Career Potential LLC

Organizational leaders are navigating unique challenges as it relates to diversity, disruption, and workforce engagement. A common foundational denominator to successfully navigate these challenges includes trust, respect, and accountability. This session will provide practical strategies to assess and develop trust, respect, and accountability to maximize organizational success.

Moderator: Brian Stumph, Sales Rep., Trainer & Installer, Fred’s Tents & Canopies Inc.
Panelists: David Darby, Special Event & Tent Specialist, Rent-E-Quip
Tommy Wilson, Director of Event Services, All Occasions Event Rental
Carlos Mino, Vice President, Classic Tents & Events

Join us for an informative panel discussion led by representatives of different size Tent Rental Companies that will share their perspectives and experiences with warehouse operations. Learn proven strategies, specific processes, and overall best practices from these seasoned pros to help optimize your own warehouse operations. Bring your many questions and plan for a great interactive session.

Moderator: Brian Stumph, Sales Rep., Trainer & Installer, Fred’s Tents & Canopies Inc.
Panelists: Bryan Bolt, Technical Solutions Mgr, TopTec Event Tents
Michael Tharpe, Immediate Past Chairman of Tent Rental Division

Join us as we take a look at generally accepted standards for the ongoing maintenance of commercial tent products. Over the given life of any rental tent product it will be installed, removed, and then returned for storage until the next time it is utilized. There are very specific conditions that need to be maintained for safety, storage, cleaning, inspection and eventually some basic repairs that can be administered by the owner of the tent system to keep the product in its best possible condition for the life of the product.

RESCHEDULED from Tuesday due to Weather.  All individuals operating a MEWP (Mobile Elevating Work Platform) on your job sites or within your facility must undergo training in accordance with federal regulations. To assist you in meeting OSHA requirements and complying with the new ANSI A92 standards, ATA TRD has partnered with ARA to offer comprehensive MEWP Operator Training. This training initiative not only enhances safety but also adds value for both your employees and customers.

TRD’s MEWP training is just the beginning of a series of training opportunities tailored to the equipment commonly used in the tent industry. Our convenient hybrid course combines online and in-person components to optimize your or your employees’ time. You’ll begin with the convenience of online classroom training and testing via a web-based platform, allowing you to progress at your own pace. The online portion typically takes around 4 hours to complete and must be finished 48 hours prior to the hands-on training.

The final step in certification involves an onsite practical hands-on examination. This MEWP in-person training event is rescheduled at the ATA Tent Expo in Daytona on January 10, 2024. TRD will provide the necessary equipment for the practical hands-on test. Upon successful completion of this hands-on training segment, Certified MEWP Operators will receive an operator card certifying their status.

Following the exams, there will be an impromptu social hour for the installers to bask in their completion of the certification!

Steve Belliveau, Outside Sales Manager, Anchor Industries
Joe Langehaug, Regional Sales, Losberger DeBoer

Session will begin with a brief but important review of the required safety equipment and procedures critical to the safe installation, maintenance, and removal of tents and structures.

Attendees will gain critical knowledge and hands-on experience with the following types of tent structures:

32’w x 51’ Round End -Sail Cloth Style Rope & Pole Tent

• Lay out procedure and marking of all poles and stakes
• Sequence of raising all side poles and Center poles
• Proper tensioning and final inspection of tent
• Review of removal procedures

6m x 6m Clear Span Structure

• Squaring of Base Plates
• Sequence of lay out of parts and assembly of Arches
• Raising of Arches (beams)
• Fabric installation (Mids, Ends, walls) and proper tensioning
• Removal procedures will also be reviewed

Paul Armstrong, Principal, PACCS and Nick Deninno, Founder, B&R Innovations, LLC

Join us for a comprehensive seminar where Paul Armstrong will unveil crucial updates pertinent to the Tent Industry, specifically concerning the latest 2024 IBC codes for temporary structures and their imminent impact on your business. Following this, Nick Deninno will conduct an interactive Q&A session focusing on the evolving Ballasting Code changes.

In addition, the Common Ground Alliance (811) will introduce their innovative “Call Before You Stake” Campaign tailored specifically for the tent industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead in an ever-changing landscape and ensure your business is prepared for the forthcoming shifts in regulations and practices.

Moderator: Mike Holland, CERP President & Owner, Chattanooga Tent Co.
Panelist: Darren Randle, Owner/President, Houston Tents & Events; Fred Tracy, President, Fred’s Tents & Canopies Inc.

Have you ever received a call asking if you can customize a tent? We’ve all been there! Dive into the world of custom installs that will make your clients say, “Wow!” In this session industry rental companies and manufacturers will share their experiences of creating customized tent installations. You might not be ready to take on customizations just yet, but having this knowledge in your back pocket will be a game-changer when the time comes.

Pick up your badge at the registration sponsor’s tent: 

Saroj Bains, General Manager, Event Labor Works; Heather Wilhelm, Sales and Business Development, Chairman Mills/Regals Tents; Diane Newman, VP of Operations, Greenwich Tents

Discover the benefit of utilizing outside labor companies to help grow your rental house capacity. In this session you will explore the key considerations and strategic planning required to maximize your return on investment (ROI).

Daryl Benz, National Event Specialist, Aggreko Event Services

Enhance your power distribution skills in this informative session. Learn the basics installers should know and dive into a hands-on experience. Discover proper generator start-up and shut down, sizing the right size cables, understand single and three-phase hook-ups, explore different types of boxes, and maximize power output.